Truck Driver Training

Fort Lauderdale Attorney Representing People Injured in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Tractor-trailers and other commercial trucks are substantially larger than standard passenger vehicles, and truck drivers require additional training and licensure to operate their trucks safely. When truck drivers are not adequately trained or fail to adhere to their training, it often results in an accident. Accidents involving trucks are usually catastrophic, causing substantial property damage and injuries. If you were involved in a truck accident, it is critical to consult a skillful personal injury attorney as soon as possible to discuss your rights under the law. Joseph I. Lipsky is a nationally recognized Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer who is well-versed in what it takes to recover the maximum compensation in a lawsuit arising out of a trucking accident. He is an expert who is familiar with truck driver training requirements and has over twenty-five years of experience holding drivers and companies accountable for cutting corners regarding safety.

Required Training for Truck Drivers

Under Florida law, truck drivers must meet specific requirements before they can obtain a CDL, which is the commercial driver’s license needed to drive commercial trucks and tractor-trailers. First, anyone trying to obtain a CDL must have an operator’s license and must meet vision requirements. A person who wishes to obtain a CDL must also pass skills and knowledge tests. CDLs are broken down into three different classes (A, B, and C), based on the weight of the truck that the driver is permitted to operate. For each class, however, a driver is required to pass general knowledge, air brakes, and combination vehicles tests, as well as any necessary tests for endorsements. Drivers are also required to pass pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control, and on-road skills tests for each class.

Harm Caused by Insufficient Truck Driver Training

Prior to taking the tests needed for a CDL, drivers will generally undergo training at a truck driving school. At other times, the company that hired the driver will offer on the road training for the driver. In many cases, the training provided is merely sufficient to allow the driver to obtain his or her CDL. Additionally, in an effort to cut costs, some companies employ truck drivers who do not have a CDL and have not received sufficient training, placing the driver and other people on the road at risk.

If a driver causes an accident because he or she was not adequately trained or failed to use the skills obtained via his or her training, both the driver and the company that employed the driver can be held liable. In the majority of cases arising out of truck accidents, the person injured in the accident will allege that the driver or the driver’s employer was negligent. In Florida, to recover damages in a negligence claim, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant owed him or her a duty, the duty was breached, and the breach proximately caused the injured person’s harm. Thus, in a case involving a truck accident caused by inadequate truck driver training, the breach would be the failure to obtain sufficient training. If you were injured in a truck accident in Fort Lauderdale or elsewhere in South Florida, an experienced personal injury attorney can advise you on whether you may be able to recover damages in a civil lawsuit.

Speak With a Knowledgeable Personal Injury Attorney Regarding Your Case

Truck drivers have a duty to all other drivers and passengers on the road to make sure that they receive adequate training. If you were injured in an accident caused by a truck driver, you should speak with a personal injury lawyer regarding your case and your potential claims against both the driver and his or her employer. Joseph I. Lipsky is a seasoned Fort Lauderdale attorney who can exercise his ample knowledge and skill to help you seek the full amount of compensation that you are entitled to recover. Mr. Lipsky regularly helps people injured in trucking accidents in Broward, Orange, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties, including in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Miami, and Key West. We can be contacted through the form online or at 1-888-352-5298 to set up a confidential and free meeting to discuss your case.